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Girl band kicked off X Factor for lying about age
Mark Blunden, London LiteUpdated 15:31pm on 28 Sep 2009
An all-girl group has been kicked out of The X Factor for lying about the age of one member.
Tru Colourz were delighted to hear they had made it through to the final 24 acts and would be mentored by judge Louis Walsh.
Age barrier: Tru Colourz Christina, Rachel and Ivette are out of the show
But their happiness turned to dismay when bosses at ITV discovered one of the London-based trio — Christina, Rachel and Ivette — was under the age limit of 16 and disqualified them.
In scenes to be shown on this Saturday's show, the girls admitted to Walsh that they had lied. He told them to leave and re-audition next year.
A show insider said: “One of Tru Colourz had claimed to be 16, but was actually still 15. It was just a little white lie because she was so desperate to get on the show, but it has cost them. They were devastated when Louis asked them, but they took it on the chin and admitted straight away what they'd done. Louis told them to come back next year.”
X-stasy: contenders get through another round
The identity of the underage girl has not been revealed. Fellow judge and show producer Simon Cowell is said to have launched an investigation to find out how the girls managed to get through to the last 24. The insider added: “Heads will roll, Simon Cowell is not happy about this embarrassing situation.”
After the last 24 acts were chosen, they were split into four groups and whisked away to their mentors' homes in Cannes, St Tropez, Ireland and Barbados. The over-25s will be mentored by Cowell, the girls will be looked after by Dannii Minogue, the boys by Cheryl Cole and the groups by Walsh.
Come back next year: Louis Walsh told the girls to leave
Meanwhile, The X Factor won the Saturday night ratings war with the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing for the second week that the shows have overlapped, attracting a peak of 10.1m viewers, compared to the maximum of 8.7m who tuned in to Strictly.
Reader views (7)
Yes Peace Maker, -I remember Eegan Queeg constantly saying, - 'and I'm only sixteen' -hoping to capture the 'mummy's' votes. -glad he never got them!
- Huggy, Cumbernauld Scotland, 29/09/2009 12:11
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This week is my favourite part - it is always such fun to see the gloom of the faces of the groups when they get to go to Ireland with Louie...wooopeedooh..... while everyone else gets to go somewhere awesome like Barbados. So cruel! Clearly a reflection of who has clout on the show's production team and that they can't be bothered spending money flying a bunch of could-bes further than Ireland.
- Penny, Essex, 29/09/2009 11:36
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Relax, it turns out the 25th act was a group so Walsh has his chances restored. Harmony Hood will keep him in the game.
- Geek Freak, Paris, Texas, 28/09/2009 22:33
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Louis Walsh is to predictable. Every year he puts through some poor Irish act. Those twins are the most annoying prats ever. I hope they get booted out first. And how annoying is the teacher guy with hit OTT crooning.
- Pa, London, 28/09/2009 19:32
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Lou Lou'll be lucky to win this year now that he is an act down at the start and he has lumbered himself with the Grimes Twins. He's doomed.
I thought Eoghan Quigg was 15 when he entered last year, turning 16 mid-competition hence his absence from the extra factor owing to the watershed.
Methinks Lou Lou heard Tru Colourz say, before the announcement of the mentors, that they would least prefer him because he was the most lukewarm of the judges at the first audition and so he has found a means to get shot.
Project A are his only hope. He's doomed. Poor Lou Lou.
- Peace Maker, Battersea, 28/09/2009 15:23
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They should have kicked off the irish twins are lied about being able to sing.
I'm, glad they kicked off the knife-crime thug with the tag though.
- Keith Price, Luton England, 28/09/2009 14:35
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As a fan over the last number of years. Not sure of the current shows. Contestants dont seem to get the same support as previous years. I wonder if Irish viewers will have an opportunity to vote this year. I hope we do this year.
Ann
- Ann O Connor, Longford Ireland, 28/09/2009 14:03
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